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Profile

Wally Tham

I am passionate about:
Looking at global problems and helping out in my own little way.

Founder and Director of Big Red Button

Big Red Button

I run a change management company Big Red Button, we use stories to help people/corporations/government agencies tackle issues differently. I also lead a ground-up initiative, Stand Up For Our Singapore. We find ways to contribute to Singapore’s narrative on what kind of country we could be and how are the best ways to contribute one another. In my spare time, I look at global problems and do my part to help. With friends I have built a village using the arts, given out 20 tonnes of rice to Smokey Mountain and recently, I am finding sustainable ways to address the Haze crisis in Kalimantan.

There are two types shelters. One based in a concrete space, that’s the Headquarters we have in Indonesia.

The other is a bamboo dome structure we call the Little Nest. These are built within village houses. They do not face the outside elements. The idea is that many villagers do not evacuate when the haze comes and choose to stay put exposing themselves to the haze filled air.

Our shelter is built in their living rooms, creating a pocket of air to have them adapt to haze conditions of about PSI 1000 and below.

So the Little Nest is not meant to withstand weather or even direct fires, they are like indoor tents that allow for clean air pockets for breathing.

We will always recommend evacuation but based on history and a long held fear of having their property taken from them, they are unlikely to escape.

Agreed, pollution from combustion engines is a major concern.In Kalimantan, due to lower population density than Jakarta, the transport caused pollution is lower, but still present.

Regulation also exists regarding forest fires, but it will take time to see if this is going to stick, as it's much harder to catch an individual tossing a stray match than catching an container carrier. :)